Taxation and Invoicing: EuroCommerce Calls for an EU-Wide Parcel Tax to Keep the Single Market Intact

As Europe prepares to roll out a new parcel tax, the debate over how and when to implement it is heating up. EuroCommerce — the European retail and wholesale association — is urging EU policymakers to stay united and adopt one single, harmonized handling fee for parcels entering the bloc.

According to the organization, allowing individual countries to move ahead with their own versions of the tax could “undermine the integrity of the single European market.”

The plan: a new EU-wide handling fee

The European Commission has proposed a fixed €2 fee on parcels shipped into the EU from outside the bloc. The cost would be paid by platforms sending the packages, while shipments headed to EU-based warehouses would face a smaller charge of €0.50.

If approved by the European Parliament and member states, the measure would take effect in March 2028. At the same time, the long-standing import duty exemption for goods valued up to €150 would be abolished.

Some countries don’t want to wait

Not everyone wants to wait until 2028. Belgium has already floated plans to introduce a €2-per-parcel tax as early as 2026, and the Netherlands could follow suit.

This eagerness to move ahead individually has sparked concern among retailers and logistics players who rely on consistent EU-wide rules to operate efficiently across borders.

EuroCommerce Pushes for a Unified Approach

EuroCommerce is calling for consistency, warning that individual national parcel fees could disrupt the EU’s single market.

Director General Christel Delberghe emphasized the need for one harmonized EU handling fee to prevent market fragmentation and ensure a level playing field.

The association stresses that a coordinated rollout would protect both retailers and consumers — keeping cross-border trade efficient and fair.

Why it matters

Different national parcel fees could complicate cross-border trade and increase costs, particularly for smaller businesses that rely on consistent logistics rules.

As shoppers expect smooth, transparent delivery across Europe, a single EU-wide policy may be what keeps efficiency — and consumer trust — intact.